How do you tell someone to leave?
I work at a cafe in a busy city, the cafe is very small about 6 feet wide but it is about 25ft long. There is a small seating area and when 5 people are in there it looks like its packed in there.
So we have made a friend who is in a electric wheelchair, he comes in almost everyday and talks for a few hours. Since the place is so small he takes up a lot of room and he has to talk to everyone. It gets aggravating. Although this man is very nice he cant stay in our cafe for long periods of time anymore. How do you tell someone that they have to leave or cant stay in here everyday for long periods of time without sounding mean?
These are very good answers, thank you.
But, this situation also makes me feel bad because he has also caused some damage to the front of our front counter (which I am not charging him for) because his wheelchair scrapes.
Although he does purchase food, it is still very difficult to say to someone weather the person has a disability or not; even though the relationship is not very close. It’s just tough because he can be very interruptive and make things awkward for other customers. You can just feel it, you know?
Also, I am only a worker, who should be the one to tell him? Can someone give me an example of what I should say exactly?
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
The law requires "reasonable accommodation" from business regarding wheelchair access, and telling him he cannot be there could be perceived as discrimination, but you have a valid argument that there is no way to accommodate him, especially if his visit isn’t entirely as a customer. If you want, you can play equal victim. Tell him you enjoy his visits, but the manager or owner received a complaint from a customer about not being able to come in, that too much space was being taken and you were only chatting. Something to that effect. Tell him that you all were asked not to be socializing with people unless they were paying customers.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
It sounds to me like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one. I don’t think there’s anything you can do or it may look like discrimination. :((
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Just explain it to your friend the same way you just explained it to us. If you want to spend more time with him invite him to other places you go that might be more comfortable for the both of you. You can’t allow him to start costing your business money. He should understand that.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Ooohh, that’s a tough one. He’s probably lonely. Maybe pay a little less attention to him and he’ll leave. Eventually, you may be able to joke with him and say something like" OK, George, this seating has to move out so the next group can come in! See you soon!" But, please, don’t hurt his feelings. If you HAVE to get him out, take him aside and tell him quietly that other people have no where to sit and when he is done eating, he is going to have to leave and make room for others.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Explain about the lack of room and suggest that maybe he "sit" in the back or limit his time. Tell him that you can’t visit for long periods of time as you are on the clock too-
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
He does not take up that much space. I think you are just getting tired of him being there. You should feel bad for asking this question.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
I think your situation is not being mean. It’s about running a business. I would tell him that you enjoy his company but, at the same time you need to turn over the tables as you are running a business and have expenses. If you can not pay the rent what is he going to do for you? If paying customers can not get a table then they don’t come into your store. I would tell him that he can not stay there for hours at a time. You need to turn over the tables and you are putting a time limit for all.
Sorry to say not matter what you tell him he is not going to like it. He will use the wheel chair as an excuse. You need to decide what’s more important "being mean" or going out of business?
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Don’t pity this man just because he is in a wheelchair,i sound blunt but if he was able bodied you’d have no problem telling him i dare say.
See the person ,not the disability.
Just my opinion.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Well you guys have plenty to do, so if you all agree to smile regretfully and say "Oh, I’m so sorry Charles, but I have to get back to work. It was nice talking to you though, and we’ll see you tomorrow".
If you all take that tone and use that vague excuse of busyness (you are working after all) while still implying that you do enjoy his company, then he will realize that his chatting, while nice, is not appropriate all the time.
But because you said it this way, he won’t be embarrassed, and avoiding embarrassing customers and friends is always a best practice.
August 8th, 2010 - 10:32
Yikes this is a hard one! I had a very simular situation like this before when i worked at a small resteraunt and this lady would come in EVERYDAY! I think she was just bored! She was an older lady and she would bring in HUGE bags of news papers and stuff. I think she lived in the homeless shelter down town and walked to us everyday just so she had something to do. Anyways not only did she keep the employee’s from doing their job cause she was talking she also would talk to the customers as they walked in and some of them were a little uncomfortable with her. She was such a sweet lady and none of us knew what to do so our manager just put some no soliciting signs up in the front door she notised them right away and when she came in that day she asked about them i told her nobody was aloud to stand around anymore unless they are eating or buying something then they have to move on. we told her we had no idea why he made that rule but they did she kinda got the hint and said "so my visit will be cut short now?" i had to tell her yes but i guess it was the nicest way we could do anything. she still comes in every now and then but only for a few miniutes. maybe you guys can do something like that? put up a sign?